Turret-head for machine-tools with rotating spindle such as milling and boring machines and the like



Aug. 1954 c. w. BERTHIEZ 2,685,122 TURRET-HEAD FOR MACHINE-TOOLS WITH ROTATING SPINDLE SUCH AS MILLING AND BORING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 13, 1951 ll Sheets-Sheet 1 Hg. I

INVENTO R Ch arles H; mm Berthiez By z q fi l/ 7 ATTORN EY Aug. 3, 1954 c. w. BERTHIEZ -HEAD FOR MACH 2,685, l 22 NC SPINDLE THE LIKE INE-TOOLS WITH ROTATI AND BORING MACHINES AND 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 TURRET SUCH AS MILLING Filed Aug. 13, 1951 l w w P 1 O 2 ====s 0 v 1 I, g o H N m 4, m w a I 3 l\/ in) 4 c d e a 2 A 3 O A H INVEN'TOR Charles William Berflu'ez By A ATTORNEY Aug. 3, 1954 c. w. BERTHIEZ 2,635,122 TURRET- AD FOR MACHINE-TOOLS WITH ROTATING SPINDLE SUCH MILLING AND BORING MACHINES AND TH IKE Filed Aug. 13, 1951 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN TOR Chm-{es William Berthiez wggywu? ATTORNEY Aug. 3, 1954 RTH|EZ 2,685,122

C. W. BE TURRET-HEAD FOR MACHINE-TOOLS WITH ROTATING SPINDLE SUCH AS MILLING AND BORING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 13, 1951 ll Sheets-Sheet 4 4 INVENTOR Chn-les William BED-"U81 ATTORNEY 3, 1954 c. w. BERTHIEZ 2,685,122 TURRET-HEAD FOR MACHINE TOOLS WITH ROTATING SPINDLE SUCH AS MILLING AND BORING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 15,

ll Sheets-Sheet 5 Charles \n/iHl'A-M Berthiez 2,685,122 OTATING SPINDLE. S AND THE LIKE ll Sheets-Sheet 6 g- 1954 c. w. BERTHIEZ TURRET-HEAD FOR MACHINE-TOOLS WITH R SUCH AS MILLING AND BORING MACHINE Filed Aug. 13, 1951 C. W. BERTHIEZ Aug. 3, 1954 TURRET-HEAD FOR MACHINE-TOOLS WITH ROT TING SPIND SUCH AS MILLING AND BORING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 13,1951 ll Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR Charles Wi lliann Bea-tkiez By w ATTORNEY c. w. BERTHIEZ 2,685,122 MACHINE-TOOLS WITH ROTATING SPINDLE LING AND BORING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Aug. 3, 1954 TURRET-HEAD FOR SUCH AS MIL ll Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Aug. 13,

lNVENTOR Chm-[es William Berthiez y ATTORNEY 3, 1954' c. w. BERTHIEZ 2,685,122

TURRET-HEAD FOR MACHINE-TOOL S WITH ROTATING SPINDLE SUCH AS MILLING AND BORING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 13, 1951 ll Sheets-Sheet 9 fig. I3

MILK

F; 9 408 g I U 402 X I J I 406 40.9 1 T.

J F a I E INVENTQR Chaqles William Bertkiez ATTO RN EY 1954 c. w. BERTHIEZ 2,685,122 TURRET-HEAD FOR MACHINE-TOOLS WITH ROTATING SPINDLE SUCH AS MILLING AND BORING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 13, 1951 ll Sheets-Sheet l0 INVE'N TOR Charles William Berthiez ATTORNEY Aug. 3, 1954 c. w. BERTHIEZ 2,685, TURRETHEAD FOR MACHINE-TOOLS WITH ROTATING SPINDLE SUCH AS MILLING AND BORING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 15, 1951 ll Sheets-Sheet ll INVE-N To R ChAYIBS William Bertkiez ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 3, 1954 UNITED STATES TURRET-HEAD FOR MA ROTATING SPINDLE AND BORING MACHI Application August 13, 1951,

CHIN E -TOOLS WITH SUCH AS MILLING NES AND THE LIKE Serial No. 241,679

Claims priority, application France May 26, 1951 21 Claims. 1

Turrets are already mounted on machine-tools having a rotary spindle, and which are provided with recesses intended to receive various tool-units which can be brought into being always situated in a given direction with respect to the rotary machine spindle.

In order to perform certain kinds of machining operations it is desirable to use turret-heads to the machine spindle.

It has already been contemplated in my pending application Serial 132,023 filed on December 9, 1949, to build turret-heads of this known which can be several positions, such positions.

kind but some difficulties are met in these devices owing to the fact that the machine spindle passes through the turret-head involving a mechanical complication which considerably increases their cost price.

The aim of the a turret-head meeting the requirements stated above and to design a mechanical embodiment simpler than the turret-head described in said copending application.

present invention is to provide One object of the present invention is to provide a turret-head comprising a turret rotatably mounted on a body and adapted to be mounted on a machine tool provided with a rotary spindle, this turret comprising a first series of recesses,

any one of these recesses being in the axis of the machine spindle for a series of given angular positions, and a second series of recesses, any one of which is transverse to the spindle for a series of given angular positions of the turret.

Preferably the rotation axis of the turret is oblique with respect to the machine spindle axis in such a manner that it is possible to use one of the tools mounted in the recesses without the other tools being in the way.

Other features invention will appear from the following specification and from the accompanying drawings in which a simplified representation of one embodiment of the invention is given merely by way of example.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a milling and boring machine equipped with a turret-head according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view, on a larger scale, of the turret-head alone separate from the milling and. boring machine;

Fig. 3 is a front View of said turret-head having been rotated by an eighth the representation of Fig. 2;

and advantages of the present' of a turn relative to Fig. 4 is a section on line IV-IV of Fig. 3 but in which a machining unit has been represented arranged in one of the recesses whereas in Fig. 3 said recess was fitted with a cover.

Fig. 5 is a section, on a larger scale, made on line VV of Fig. i;

Fig. 6 is a section, also on this larger scale, made on line VI-VI of Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a section, on the same larger scale as the above, made on line VIIVII of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a, section, again on the same larger scale, made on line VIIIVIII of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a section, on the same larger scale, made on line Iii-4X of Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a section, again on the scale, made on line XX of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a section, on the same larger scale made on line XI-XI of Fig. 7;

Fig. 12 is an elevational view, on a smaller scale, of a stationary tool-carrier for vertical turning operations which can be placed in any one of the recesses of the turret;

Fig. 13 is a vertical axial section, on the same larger scale as that of Figs. 5 to 11, of the connection device of the milling and boring machine spindle, as well as of the means for driving the machining units;

Fig. 14 is a section, on the same larger scale, along line LIVXIV of Fig. 13;

Finally, Figs. 15, 16 and 17 are electro-mechanical wiring diagrams showing the device used for rotating the turret in the clamped, in the unclamped and in the rotating positions respectively.

The following is a description of the invention applied to a milling and boring machine fitted with a rotary table by means of which it is possible to perform on a workpiece, vertical turning operations apart from the usual milling and boring operations.

This milling and boring machine comprises essentially a bed 2| on which can slide a column 20, a slide carrying the headstock 5 being adapted to slide up and down this column 20. In the milling and boring machine represented by way of example the headstock =8 is mounted on the slide so that it can be shifted thereon horizontally.

Furthermore, the milling and boring machine, which has been taken as an example, comprises a rotary table it for vertical turning work, this table being driven by an electric motor Ii.

The turret head which I will now describe makes it possible to easily perform various successive machining operations such as:-vertiturning, fiat and cylindrical surfacing, boring, milling, drilling and so on, on the same worksame larger 3 piece without having to reset or take it away from its support, the table 10 in this embodiment.

The assembly of the turret head comprises essentially a body I made of light metal (figures l to l), for instance of aluminium alloy, which carries a tool-carrier turret 2 adapted to rotate on said body. This body is secured to a grooved plate 3 arranged on the front face of headstock by means of bolts 5 the heads of which are inserted in grooves 6 of the plate, whereas their nuts i bear on the trued face of lugs 8 distributed on the body periphery. The accurate positioning of the body with respect to headstock is ensured, on the one hand, through a centering ring 9 fitted on the body base by means of screws [2 and centered about the bearing casing [3 of the machine spindle sleeve M and, on the other hand, by means of a small prismatic block it secured to the body I by two screws l6 and placed in that one of the grooves 6 which is located in the vertical plane passing through the axis of the spindle l1.

The turret 2, also made of light alloy, can rotate on the body I about an axis 18 which is oblique relative to the axis of spindle ll of the machine. The turret 2 is centered relative to its axis by means of a centering ring I9 (see also Fig. 5) fixed on the turret 2 by screws 2?. and by a centering hub 23 clamped on the body 1 by screws 24. Between the centering hub 23 and the body I is inserted a shim 25 the thickness of which is determined when the turret is mounted on the body so as to ensure an accurate longitudinal positioning of the hub 23 relative to the body and to leave an adequate longitudinal clearance between the hub 23 and the centering ring i9 carried by the turret 2.

The longitudinal positioning of the turret 2 along its axis of rotation is accurately achieved through an annular bearing surface having a large diameter, arranged near the turret periphery and formed by two mild steel rings one of which 26 is secured to the turret by means of screws 2?, whereas the other 28 is fixed to the body 1 by means of screws 29.

The ring 28 carried by the body I is provided with an annular groove 32 to house an electric winding 33 in which an electric current can be made to now so as to build up a mutual attraction of the rings 26 and 28 towards their joining plane. The input and the output of this electrical winding are achieved by means of terminals, such as terminal 3 5 shown. on Fig. 4. Further reference will be made hereinafter to the operation of the magnetic coupling thus provided, the object of which is to firmly clamp the turret against the body I. In order to prevent the loosening of the turret from the body even when no electric current is flowing in the winding 33 of the magnetic coupling, an annular flange 35 is provided, this flange being fastened to the body by means of screws 3% and fitted with a ledge 3! which slidably bears on the edge of the ring 26 secured to the turret.

The turret .2 and the body i being both made of light alloy, the magnetic path of the magnetic coupling is restricted to the two mild steel rings 26 and 26 and, therefore, there are no considerable magnetic losses in the body i and in the turret 2.

The rotary motion of the turret on the body is achieved by means of a rotary device to which further reference will be made hereinafter. This device comprises a toothed ring 33 secured to an intermediary ring 39 by means of screws 42 and dowel pins 43, this intermediary ring being fitted to the turret also by screws 44 and dowel pins 45. The object of this intermediary ring 39 is to permit the cutting of the teeth of ring 38 before it is mounted on the intermediary ring.

The turret comprises a first group of, for instance, four cylindrical recesses 46 symmetrically distributed around the axis l8 of the turret and inclined with respect to said axis by such an amount that, by rotating the turret a quarter of a revolution relative to the body, these recesses may be brought in succession in alignment with the axis of the spindle l1, that is to say into a horizontal position. The recesses 48 are intended to receive machining units such as, for example, milling, drilling, tapping, etc headstocks, or stationary tools for vertical turning operations, to which further reference will be made.

The turret comprises also a second group of, for instance, four cylindrical recesses 41 likewise symmetrically arranged relative to the axis l8 of the turret but in such a manner that, by rotating the turret a quarter of a revolution, the axes of the recesses 41 are brought successively into a vertical position that is, perpendicular to the spindle axis. In the embodiment represented the horizontal and the vertical recesses are alternate on the turret periphery and are distributed at intervals distant from each other of an eighth of a circumference. As is the case with recesses 46, the recesses 41 are adapted to carry either machining units or stationary tools.

By referring now more particularly to figures 4 and 6, I will describe an example of the embodiment comprising a milling unit 48 adapted to be mounted in any one of the recesses above referred to (recess 46 in the drawing) and show how this unit is driven from the machine spindle.

The milling unit 48 comprises a cylindrical body 49 which is fitted freely into the recess 46 and provided with a flange 52 having holes 53 through which screws 54 can be mounted, these being screwed into a ring 55 which is fastened on the end of the recess by means of screws like 56 (seen only on headstock H6 fitted in recess 41). The angular positioning of the body .9 of the machining unit around its axis is ensured by means of a positioning block 5'! fastened on ring 55 by a screw 58 and partly engaged in a slot 59 of said ring, said block being adapted to be also engaged into a complementary slot 62 of the flange fastening the body 49 of the machining unit to the turret. It will be seen that the machining unit body 59 bears on the light alloy turret 2 near its inner end and on the bore of the steel ring 55 near its outer end, which end is located near the cutting tools and, therefore, subjected to most considerable fatigue.

Inside the machining unit body, a hollow spindle 63 is rotatably supported by means of two taper roller bearings 64 and 65, one of which, 64, is in engagement with a thrust ring 66 itself held in engagement with a shoulder 61 in the bore of the machining unit body 59 by a cover 68 fastened to said body by screws 69. The other roller bearing is in engagement with a ring H which is made to engage another shoulder 12 in the bore of the machining unit body 49 through the medium of a spacing ring 13 and of the outer rings of two further roller bearings 14, 15 by means of a cover I6 fastened to the other end of the body 49 of the machining unit by means of screws 11. The roller bearings I4, 15,

which are also separated by a spacing ring 78, are intended to support a tubular shaft '59, on one end of which is fastened by means of screws 83, a driving bevel gear wheel 82. A shaft 86 is splined inside the spindle 63 of the machining are uninterrupted splines 85 and they cooperate with corresponding continuous grooves 86 provided in 63, whereas the splines of that portion of the adapted to cooperate in an engaged position with portions of complementary grooves 88 provided in the tubular driving shaft 753. When brought into the engaged position, the groove portions of the sliding inner shaft 84 are located in recesses 89 of the tubular driving shaft so that, in said position, the inner shaft and the tubular driving shaft are not coupled. In the engaged position, the continuous splines 85 of the sliding shaft also cooperate with a set of broken drilled through a sleeve 94 adapted to be shifted along the spindle ea. The sliding motion of said an engagement controlling handle 95 which is fastened to one end of a rod 96, whose other end is formed with an offset tongue 9? cooperating with a groove 98 also offset and cut into a small plate 99 provided with a screw Hi2, the smooth end of which is engaged in a circular groove I 03 of the sleeve iii. rod 96 is pivoted in a sleeve use secured by screw I 65 to the turret 2. The plate 99 is held in a bore I 16 of the machining unit body by means of a retaining ring I91 and an adequate clearance is provided to enable the plate to rotate in said bore. The rod 95 can be longitudinally shifted by pushing or pulling the handle 95 so as to engage the tongue 9'! into the groove 98, or to disengage it therefrom. A ball Hi8 housed in a It will be seen that, according to the angular position of the handle 95, the engagement-controlling sleeve 94 driven by the tongue 87, can occupy two positions, i. e. the position represented in the drawing, which is the extreme left position where the splines 87 of the inner shaft 8d are not in engagement with the grooves 88 of the tubular driving shaft 79, that is to say the position for which the spindle 53 of the machin ing unit is disengaged, and a second position for which the sleeve M is shifted to the right together with the inner shaft 84, so that the splined sections of the complementary grooves 88 of the bore of the tubular driving shaft I9. Finally, when it is desired to pull the machining unit It will be seen the machining I? further on how the spindle 63 of unit is driven from the machine spindle through the toothed wheel 82.

On Fig. 4 a second machining unit H6 has been represented, the structure of which is identical with that of the machining unit 48 I will now describe the device which drives the gear wheels of both machining units (see particularly figures 4 and 5).

The driving unit 4 is permanently in mesh with another #23 housed in a casing I 24 fastened inside the turret 2 by means of screws I25, a shim washer I26 being provided, the thickness 01 which is said shaft, a washer I33 and a tongue washer I34 being inserted therebetween.

The left end its left end, by a bore I cover I '59 fastened by screws I 53 which also fasten the part I52. The two roller bearings I 56, I57 are held inside by means of I 63 which also hold in place a dome I64, wherethrough assembling splines I13. The sliding sleeve I31 can be longitudinally shifted by means of a pin I14 driven across said sleeve and also across a rod I15 which is arranged in the axis of the turret 2, and one end of which is located in an axial bore I16 of the shaft I38, whereas its other end is held in a needle bearing I11 placed in a bore I18 of the sleeve Said end protudes out of a central hole I19 of the dome I64 and is provided with an operating handle I82 screwed on to it. The pin I14 passes through an elongated slot I83 cut into shaft I38. A ring I84 is fitted around sleeve I31 to prevent the pin I14 from coming out and it is held in place by means of screw I85. The sleeve I31 can be brought into three positions on shaft I38, name- 1y: a neutral position which is that represented on Fig. 5, and two engagement positions corre sponding respectively to the engagement of the claws on its two faces with the complementary claws of the adjacent parts and, therefore, to the driving of the spindle of one or the other of the two machining units 48 and H6. These three positions can be locked with the help of a device comprising a ball I86 housed in a hole I81 of sleeve I31 and urged by a spring I88 the other end of which bears against the bore of sleeve I84, said ball being adapted to cooperate with three V grooves I9I, I92, I93 cut in shaft I38.

The right end of the inner shaft I38 is also splined and carries a bevel gear wheel I94, the hub of which is tightened against the inner race of roller bearing I43 by means of a nut I95 screwed on the end of said shaft, and which also holds the inner race of a needle bearing I96, two washers I91, I98 and a tongue washer I99 being inserted therebetween.

The outer race of said needle bearing is housed in a bore 202 of the body I.

The bevel gear wheel I94 is in mesh with another bevel gear wheel 203 (see Figures 4 and 13), the hub 204 of which is supported by two roller bearings 205, 206 mounted in a casing 201 which is located in a bore in said bore by screws 209, a shim washer 2I2, the thickness of which is selected when the mounting takes place, being inserted between the body I and the casing 201. The gear wheel 203 is driven from through the medium of a device designed as follows:

The hub 204 of the toothed wheel 203 is provided with longitudinal splines 2I3 which co operate with complementary grooves cut in a sleeve 2I5 which is housed in said hub. This sleeve holds a driving plate 2I6 against the hub end, and the whole is held in place by means of screws 2I1, the end of which is screwed in a nut 2I8, the outer face of said nut being provided with grooves cooperating With the inner splines 2I3 of the hub 204. The nut 2I8 is formed with a shoulder 222 which bears on a corresponding shoulder 223 provided in the bore of hub 284. The driving plate 2I6 is fitted with two bosses 224 (Figure 14) housed in disc 226, two other slots 221 (Figure 13) of this disc being intended to receive two blocks 228 fixed by means of screws 229 in two slots 232 out in the end face of the machine spindle I1. In order to prevent the driving disc from falling away when the turret head is removed from the machine, a collar ring 233 is fastened on the casing 201 by means of screws 234 and cooperates with a flange 235 of the driving disc, the

208 of the body I and held the machine spindle I1 slots 225 of a driving space between the collar ring and the driving disc being large enough to prevent these two parts from coming into contact when the turret is in position on the machine.

From the aforegoing it can be seen that by pulling the clutch operating handle I82, the spindles of the machining units are located in the recesses 41 and are in a position to be driven by the machine spindle I1, whereas by pushing said handle, the spindles of the machining units located in recesses 48 are brought into a position to be driven by said machine spindle. When a machining unit is in its working position, its spindle is actually powered when the handle 95 is set in the engagement position.

To ensure a correct power transmission to the machining unit spindle, it is, of course, necessary that the longitudinal position of the machine spindle I1 be adjusted in such a way that the blocks 228 fixed in its end grooves ar properly set in the slots 221 of the driving disc 226.

I will now describe, by referring particularly to Figures '1 to 11, the control devices for rotating the turret on the body and for operating the magnetic coupling which is adapted to clamp the turret on the body, both control devices being linked together and operated from a Single three-position lever.

As regards the control gear for rotating the turret it has already been seen that it comprises a toothed ring 38 represented on Fig. ll, which also shows a pinion 242 in mesh with said toothed ring 38 and carried by a shaft 243, whose end adjacent the pinion is supported by a ball bearing 224 housed in a bore 245 of a casing 246 which is fastened by screws 248 in a bore 241 provided in the body I. The ball bearing 244 is held in plac by a plate 249 fastened on the casing face by means of fiat cap screws 252. The shaft 243 carrying the toothed pinion 242 is at the same time mounted in a sleeve 253 fitted with a bronze bushing 254 in which the shaft 243 can rotate freely. The sleeve 253 is also supported inside the casing by a ball bearing 255 held in place against a shoulder 256 of said sleeve 253 by means of a retaining ring 251 arranged in a circular groove 258 out in sleeve 253. On the latter is secured a worm wheel 259 by means of screws 262. The shaft 243 carrying the toothed pinion 242, on the one hand, and the sleeve 253 together with the worm wheel, on the other hand, are adapted to be coupled by means of a multiple disc clutch 263 of any known type. One half of said clutch is keyed to the shaft 243 through a feather 264, whereas the other half is fixedly connected with sleeve 253. The control of said coupling is ensured by means of the longitudinal motion of a sleeve 26I to which reference again will be made.

The worm wheel 259 is rotatably driven by a worm 268 (see Fig '1) carried on a shaft supported at one end in a roller bearing 261 mounted in a casing 268 fastened on the body I by screws 269 and, at the other end, in a needle bearing 212 mounted in another casing 213 which is housed in a bore 214 of the body I and which is immobilized by means of a headless screw 215. These two roller bearings are held in position by retaining rings 216 and 211 respectively for one of them and 218 for the other. The two ends of the shaft carrying worm 286 are provided with oil-tight seals 28 I, 282 in order to prevent the oil which lubricates the reducing gear and the roller bearings from escaping outside. One end of the worm shaft is formed into a square portion 283 adapted to receive a crank 284 for controlling by hand the rotative motion of the turret on the body.

The other end of the worm shaft is made to cooperate through the medium of a key 285 with a shaft 283, one end of which is hollow and fitted on the worm shaft while its other end is supported in a ball bearing 281 housed in a casing 238 mounted in a bore 283 of the body and fastened on same by means of screws 293. The bearing 231 is held tightly against a shoulder 293 of the shaft by means of a nut 234 screwed on the a lock washer 295 being inserted therebetween. The shaft end is formed into a tongue 296 adapted to be driven by a complementary groove 29'! cut in one end of the shaft 298 of an electric vice to close the roller bearing casing.

In Fig. 7 will be found the control sleeve 26! of the clutch which connects the worm Wheel 259 to the pinion-carrying shaft 243. Said sleeve 23l is provided with a circular groove 303 in which are engaged two small bronze blocks 3H9 carried by stepped studs 3|2, 3|3 fitted in holes 3%, 315 drilled in the ends of the legs of an inverted U-shaped part 3l6 which is supported by two shafts 3|! and 3! 8 respectively. The shaft 3l8 is fitted in a bore 3|9 of the body I and immobilized therein by a set screw 322. shaped part 3l6 Shaft 3 I"! is adapted to freely rotate in a sleeve 324 which is fitted in a bore 325 of the body I and which is 7 provided with a collar-ring immobilization of said sleeve i by means of screws 321.

The other end of shaft adapted to receive a part 328 comprising a bore 326 permitting the relative to the body 333 held in place by a cotter pin 33?. The upper part of the yoke piece 335 is formed into a cylindrical extension 338 provided with a threaded hole in and 342, to-

tened on the body 5 through the medium of a plate 363 and two screws 369. Said switch 331 controls the electric motor 239 (see Figure 7) through the medium of a contactor which is not shown.

The left end of shaft 345 is also serrated and carries a rocker arm 372 (see also Figure 10) the upper end of which forms a yoke-piece 313, the two legs of this yoke-piece are arranged on each side of a flattened portion 313 at the end The lower part of the rocker arm 312 bears on the end of a piston 389 adapted to slide inside a sleeve 392 housed in a hole 393 of the body I and fitted with a screw 432 (see also Figure 9). The end of the lever 103 is fitted with an operating handle 434. The cam 399 is provided with a first bump 335 adapted to cooperate, when the lever is in a vertical position, with the control roller 406 of a two-pole double throw switch 401 which permits the reversing of the current in the winding of the magnetic coupling, this taking place in certain special conditions which will be described further on with the aid of an electric diagram. The cam 399 is also provided with two further bumps 400, 409 adapted to cooperate with a corresponding bump 412 of the hub 344 rigid with the shaft 345 in such a way that the lever 403 is made to act, during the first part of its stroke, on the switch 401 and, during the second part or its stroke, on the shaft 345, that is to say, at the same time on the disc clutch 203 of the turret rotation device, and on switch 361 which controls the motor 299 intended to rotate the turret. The shapes of the two bumps 494, 409 on the cam 399 and that of the bump 412 are such that a given dead stroke is provided between cam 399 and hub 344.

The operation of the device controlling the rotation of the turret will be described after examination of the simplified electrical diagram shown on Figures to 17 which show the coil winding 33 of the magnetic coupling. Two lines 921, 922 supplying current to said coil winding, as well as the two-pole double throw switch 401 just mentioned, have been diagrammatically represented. The diagram shows that a resistor 423 has been inserted in the supply circuit of the winding of the electro-magnetic coupling in such a manner that when the turret is to be clamped on the body, the current flows in a given direction on its full supply voltage, where as when the turret revolves on the body, the current fiows in the opposite direction in order to destroy any residual magnetism left by the clamping current and to maintain, during the turret rotation, a well defined attractive force with a low value. In the diagram, the control lever 403, the cam 405 operating the controlling roller 400 of the switch 401, and the boss 304 operating the micro-switch 361 which controls the motor 299 through a contactor 424, have also been represented. The clutch 283, which connects the electric motor 299 to the pinion 242 in mesh with the toothed ring 28 secured to the turret, can also be seen on the diagram. The representation of this clutch is made in a very diagrammatic form for the sake of clearness in the drawing, but, as it has already been explained, it is actually a multi-disc clutch. The finger 319 cooperating with the notches of the circular base 381 of turret 2, also appears in the diagram.

The operation of the turret rotation device may be described as follows:

On Fig. 15, the turret 2 is clamped on the body I in the position represented by the various figures of the drawing. The control lever 403 is in its idle position, namely position I on the diagram. In said position, a heavy current flows in the winding 33 of the magnetic coupling which clamps the turret on the body, said winding being directly connected to lines 42l-422 supplying direct current through the contacts of the two-pole double throw switch 401. The switch 361 arranged in the supply to the coil of the contactor 424 is open, so that the contacts of said contactor are also open and the motor 299 controlling the turret rotation is idle. Finally, the coupling 233 is in the disengaged position and the bolt 313 is engaged in a notch of the turret base. In this position, it is possible to operate the tool unit which is in its working position, to elfect the desired machining operations.

In order to bring other tools into a working position, the turret is to be rotated by a given angle, for instance an eighth of a revolution. For this purpose, the lever 403 is brought into position II (Figure 16) in order to actuate the double-throw switch 401 so that a current is caused to fiow in the opposite direction in the coil winding 33 of the electromagnetic coupling provided to clamp the turret on the body; this reverse current clears the residual magnetism left after the switching off of the clamping current and establishes then a weak current of a definite strength which is determined by the ohmic value of the resistance 423 now inserted in the supply circuit of the magnetic coupling winding 33. When the lever 403 is brought from position I to position II, the double throw switch is the only apparatus that has been actuated; in fact, the energizing of motor 299, the engagement of the mechanical coupling 263, which connects said motor to pinion 242, as well as the operation of the bolt 319, are achieved by means of the cam 412 which up to now has not yet been actuated by the bumps 40B- 409 of the lever 403.

The turret is thus unclamped, and in order to rotate it, the lever 403 is brought from position II to position III (see Figure 17). This movement causes the bolt 319 to come out of the turret notch in which it was engaged. When the bolt finger has moved about one half of its stroke, the clutch 263 is thrown into gear and when the bolt is about to be completely disengaged from the notch, the switch 361 is engaged by the bump 364, it closes then and energizes the contactor 424 which starts the motor 299. The turret begins to rotate and the end of the bolt 319 glides on the circular turret base 30!. While the turret rotates, the lever 403 can be left in this position or brought back to position II. In any case, as soon as the next notch of the turret base comes into register with the bolt, the spring 396, by pressing on the rocker arm 313, forces the bolt into said notch, said bolt being no longer subjected to any other action such as that of lever 403 in position III. The rocker arm drives the shaft 345 which, in its turn, drives the cam 405 the bump of which releases the roller 409 which actuates the switch 381; the latter opens and breaks the supply circuit of the contactor coil 424; the motor is no longer energized but it keeps running owing to its momentum. Meanwhile, the bolt 3B9 penetrates further into the notch of the turret base pressing along the inclined face of the notch (see Figure 10). When the bolt is halfway in the notch, the rotation of the rocker arm 313 and of the shaft 345 causes the clutch 233 to be released. Owing to its weight, as well as to the arrangement and the number of the machinin units it carries, the turret, by reason of its momentum, is apt to continue its rotating motion, but as soon as the bolt has reached the end of its stroke, the non-inclined notch face hits positively against the corresponding face 382 (see Figure 10) of the bolt, thus immobilizing the turret in the desired position. If for some reason or other due, for instance, to a given distribution of the machining units, the strength of the turret were not sufficient to bring it into its final position, then the inclined bolt face 383, by gliding on the corresponding inclined face of the turret notch, would bring said turret correctly into its final position through the action of the spring 396. Now, the turret has to be clamped again on the body. For this purpose, the lever 403 is brought from position II back actuating the bump 408 of the lever 403.

For the above described operation, it has been assumed that the turret was to be rotated by an eighth of a revolution. If it is desired to rotate it by a wider angle, it is sufiicient to maintain the lever 403 in position III, particularly when a turret notch comes into register with the bolt, as long as it is desired to have the turret go on rotating.

An emergency switch M3 (Figures 15 to 17), by means of which the rotation can be stopped at any time, is provided in the electric circuit of the device controlling the rotation of the turret.

The above description shows how it is possible to mount machining units on the revolving turret, the rotating spindles of said units being driven from the machine spindle. It also shows how the rotation of the turret on the body is achieved.

It is possible to mount on the revolving turret stationary tools such as, for instance, tools for vertical turning operations, in the place of the machinin units adapted to carry rotatable tools.

This feature is illustrated by the example represented on Fig. 12, which shows a turning-tool carrier adapted to be fitted in any one of the recesses provided for the machining units with rotating spindles. Said tool-carrier comprises a cylindrical body 426, preferably hollow so as to keep its weight down; it is fitted with a fastening flange 427 identical with the fastening flanges of the machining units, so that it can be mounted in the recesses in place of said units and fastened on the turret 2 by the same means. Said toolcarrier is provided with a head 42% which is, by way of example, represented with five threaded holes 429 intended to receive screws to fasten the stationary turning tools to be used.

On Figures 2 and 3, can be seen covers 43! adapted to seal the apertures of the recesses not in use. Said covers are fastened on rings 55, as is the case with flanges 52 of the machining units.

With a view to handling the whole revolving head assembly by means, for instance, of a crane, three sling hooks have been provided, one of said hooks 632 (Figure 4) being fastened on the turret and the other two 433 and 434 (Figure 3) being fastened on each side of the body I.

It is understood that the present invention is not restricted to the embodiments described and represented, which are given merely by way of examples. Thus, machining units for drilling, boring, tapping and like operations, could be mounted in the place of milling units.

What I claim is:

1. A turret head for a machine tool having a rotatable spindle comprising a body adapted to be supported on said machine tool adjacent said spindle, a turret supported on said body for rotation of said turret on an axis to a plurality of operating positions angularly spaced about said turret axis, said body supporting said turret with the axis of rotation of said turret intersecting the axis of rotation of said spindle when said body is supported on said machine tool, said turret providing a tool unit receiving recess having an axis lengthwise thereof and disposed in said turret with its axis intersectin the axis of rotation of said turret, said turret providing a second tool unit receiving recess having an axis lengthwise thereof and disposed in said turret with its axis intersecting said axis of rotation of i said turret at a second point spaced along said turret axis from said point of intersection of said turret axis with said axis of said first recess.

2. The turret-head of claim 1 including a toothed ring secured to said turret co-axially therewith, a shaft rotatably mounted in said body, a pinion fixed on said shaft and in mesh with said toothed rin secured to said turret, reduction gears and clutch means mounted in said body, and an electric motor secured to said body and operatively connected to said shaft through said reduction gears and said clutch means for rotatably driving said turret.

3. The turret-head of claim 1 including a device for positioning and locking said turret on said body in its various operating positions, said device comprising a bolt mounted in the body adjacent the base of said turretand adapted to cooperate through one of its ends with notches formed in the turret base in number equal to that of the turret recesses, said end of the bolt cooperatin with said notches having at least one inclined face adapted to cooperate with a face of said notches inclined in a like manner, and

iresilient means for urging said bolt against the base of said turret so as to engage said bolt into any of said notches coming in register therewith.

4. A turret head for a machine tool as defined in claim 1 in which the axis of said second recess intersects said turret axis at an angle different from the angle between said axis of said first recess and said turret axis.

5. A turret head for a machine tool as defined in claim 1 in which the axes of said recesses are oppositely inclined with respect to said turret axis.

6. A turret head for a machine tool having a rotatable spindle comprising a body adapted to be supported on said machine tool adjacent said spindle, a turret supported on said body for rotation of said turret on an axis to a plurality of operating positions angularly spaced about said turret axis, said body supporting said turret with the axis of rotation of said turret intersecting the axis of rotation of said spindle when said body is supported on said machine tool, said turret providing a tool unit receiving recess having an axis lengthwise thereof and disposed in said turret with its axis intersecting the axis of rotation of said turret at the point of intersection of said turret axis with the axis of the spindle, said turret providing a second tool unit receiving recess having an axis lengthwise thereof and disposed in said turret with its axis intersecting said axis of rotation of said turret at a second point spaced along said turret axis from said point of inter section of said turret axis with said axis of said first recess.

7. A turret head for a machine tool having a rotatable spindle comprising a body adapted to be supported on said machine tool adjacent said spindle, a turret supported on said body for rotation of said turret on an axis to a plurality of operating positions angularly spaced about said turret axis, said body supporting said turret with the axis of rotation of said turret intersecting the axis of rotation of said spindle at an oblique angle and at a predetermined point on said turret axis when said body is supported on said machine tool, said turret providing a plurality of tool unit receiving recesses each having an axis lengthwise thereof and disposed in said turret with their respective axes intersecting the axis of said turret at equal angles and at said predetermined point on said turret axis, said turret providing a plurality of tool unit receiving recesses each having an axis lengthwise thereof and disposed in said turret with the respective axes thereof intersecting said axis of rotation of said turret at a common point spaced along said turret axis from said predetermined point thereon and at equal angles with respect to said turret axis different from the angle between said axes of said first recesses and said turret axis.

8. In a machine tool having a rotatable spindle, and a member supporting said spindle for rotation thereof, the combination with said member and spindle, of a body supported on said member adjacent said spindle, a turret supported on said body for rotation of said turret on an axis to a plurality of operating positions, angularly spaced about said turret axis, said body supporting said turret with the axis of rotation of said turret intersecting the axis of said spindle, said turret providing a tool unit receiving recess having an axis lengthwise thereof and disposed in said turret with its axis intersecting the axis of rotation of said turret at the point of intersection of said turret axis with the axis of the spindle, said turret providing a second tool unit receiving recess having an axis lengthwise thereof and disposed in said turret with its axis intersecting said axis of rotation of said turret at a second point spaced along said turret axis from said point of intersection of said turret axis with said spindle axis.

9. In a machine tool having a rotatable spindle. and a member supporting said spindle for rotation thereof, the combination as defined in claim 8 in which the axis of said second recess intersects said turret axis at an angle different from the angle between said axis of said first recess and said turret axis.

10. In a machine tool having a rotatable spindle, and a member supporting said spindle for rotation thereof, the combination as defined in claim 8 in which the angle between the axis of said first recess and said turret axis is equal to the angle between said turret axis and said spindle axis, whereby said first recess may be moved into position with its axis in alignment with said spindle axis.

11. In a machine tool having a rotatable spindie, and a member supporting said spindle for rotation thereof, the combination as defined in claim 8 which comprises a shaft supported in said turret coaxially with the axis of rotation of said turret, a driving connection between said machine spindle and said shaft for rotating said shaft upon rotation of said machine spindle, clutch means supported in said turret and operatively connected to said shaft and operable between an inoperative position and a driving position, said clutch means in said driving position being operatively connected to transmission means supported in said turret, said transmission means being operatively connectible to a tool unit supported in a selected one of said recesses for driving said tool unit upon rotation of said shaft.

12. In a machine tool having a rotatable spindle, and a member supporting said spindle for rotation thereof, the combination as defined in claim 11 in which a tool unit supported in a selected recess is provided with a spindle rotatable on its axis and adapted rotatably to drive a tool, said tool unit being provided with a clutch and 16 means operatively connecting each clutch to said transmission means, said clutch being operable to connect said tool unit spindle to said transmission means for driving said tool unit spindle on rotation of said shaft.

13. In a machine tool having a rotatable spindle, and a member supporting said spindle for rotation thereof, the combination as defined in claim 8 which comprises a shaft supported in said turret coaxially with the axis of rotation of said turret, a driving connection between said machine spindle and said shaft for rotating said shaft upon rotation of said machine spindle, clutch means supported in said turret and operatively connected to said shaft and selectively operable to two driving positions, said clutch means in said positions respectively being connected to two transmission means supported in said turret and respectively operatively connectible tool units supported in the respective recesses for selectively driving said tool units upon rotation of said shaft.

14. In a machine tool having a rotatable spindle, and a member supporting said spindle for rotation thereof, the combination as defined in claim 8 which comprises means supported on said body and operatively connected to said turret and operable for rotating said turret on its axis to dispose said recesses in selected positions with respect to said machine spindle axis.

15. A turret head for a machine tool having a rotatable spindle comprising a body adapted to be supported on said machine tool adjacent said spindle, a turret supported on said body for rotation thereof on an axis to a plurality of operating positions angularly spaced about said turret axis, a first series of recesses respectively having axes lengthwise thereof and disposed in said turret with their axes intersecting the axis of rotation of said turret at a first predetermined point on said turret axis, said body supporting said turret so that said axes of said first series of recesses are movable in succession into a position in alignment with the axis of the machine spindle for the a respective angularly spaced positions of said turret about its axis, a second series of recesses respectively having axes lengthwise thereof and disposed in said turret with their axes intersecting said axis of rotation of said turret at a second predetermined point spaced along said turret axis from said first predetermined point, the axes of said recesses of said second series bein movable in succession into a position in transverse relation with respect to the axis of said machine spindle for the respective angularly spaced positions of said turret about its axis, the recesses of both said first and second series of recesses bein adapted respectively to receive tool units each having a rotatable spindle and an individual gear wheel operatively connectible to its unit spindle for rotation therewith, a shaft supported in said turret coaxially with the axis of rotation of said turret, first and second auxiliary gear wheels supported on said shaft for rotation relative thereto on the axis of the shaft and respectively in mesh with said individual gear wheels of said units when supported respectively in recesses of said first and second series of recesses, clutch means supported in said turret and operatively connected to said shaft and selectively operable to connect said first and second auxiliary gear wheels to said shaft for selectively rotating said auxiliary gear wheels upon rotation of said shaft, an intermediate gear wheel fixed upon said shaft for rotation therewith, a main gear wheel supported in said body in mesh with said intermediate gear wheel, and means supported in said body and operatively connected to said main gear wheel and operatively connectible to said rotatable spindle of said machine tool when said body is supported on said machine tool for driviIlg said main gear wheel and said shaft and said tool units upon rotation of said spindle and operation of said clutch means.

16. A turret head for a machine tool havin a rotatable spindle as defined in claim 1 in which said body and said turret are made of non-magnetic material and each is provided with a ring of magnetic material in fixed relation thereto and coaxial with the axis of rotation of said turret, said rings being disposed in face to face relation to each other, at least one of said rings being provided with an electric winding for producing a other ring to insure magnetic clamping of said turret on said body.

1'7. A turret head for a machine tool having a rotatable spindle comprising a body adapted to be supported on said machine tool adjacent said spindle, a turret supported on said body for rotation of said turret on an axis to a plurality of operatin positions angularly spaced about said turret axis, said body and said turret being made of non-magnetic material and each provided with a ring of magnetic material in fixed relation least one of said rings a magnetic field inducing a magnetic field in said other ring to insure magnetic clampin of said turret on said body.

18. A turret head for a machine tool having a rotatable spindle as defined in claim 17 which comprises a double throw switch and a resistor in circuit with said winding and connectible to a source of electrical supply, said switch and said resistor bein connected in said circuit in one position of the double throw of said switch correa machine tool having a rotatable spindle as defined in claim 18 which comprises a toothed ring secured to said turret coaxially therewith, an auxiliary shaft supported in said body for rotation thereof on its axis, a pinion fixed to said auxiliary shaft and in mesh with said toothed ring for rotating said ring and said turret upon rotation of said auxiliary shaft, clutch means operable to connection with said shaft, an electric motor supported by said body and operatively connected to said clutch means for driving said clutch means, a starting switch for said motor, a single three position lever operable to a first position corresponding to clamping of said turret on said body and operatively connected to said double throw switch to operate said switch to said position connecting said winding directly to said electrical supply, said lever being operable to a second position corresponding to unclamping of said turret from said body and operatively connected in said position to said double throw switch to operate said switch to connect said winding to said supply through said resistor, said lever being operable to a third position corresponding to rotation of the turret on said body and operatively connected in said position to said 21. A turret head for a machine tool having a rotatable spindlle as defined in claim 18 which comprises a member carried by said turret and providing notches peripherally disposed about the axis of said turret in spaced relation corresponding to the respective operating positions of said turret, a

ing means for operating said bolt to hold said turret against rotation thereof and to release said tions thereof while retaining said bolt in said engaging position and stopped position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 988,231 Vernet Mar. 28, 1911- 1,737,846 Hodgson Dec. 3, 1929 1,924,383 Stampfli Aug. 29, 1933 2,359,161 Scates Sept. 26, 1944 2,481,642 Bohmer et a1 Sept. '13, 1949 

